Nanoliter dispensing for uHTS using pin tools

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Assay Development
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Miniaturization is crucial for ultra-high-throughput screening (uHTS).
• Accurate low-volume fluid handling (2-200 nl) remains a significant challenge in assay development.
• Existing liquid handling systems often struggle with precision and reliability at these small scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce novel pin tool technology for precise low-volume liquid transfers in uHTS.
• To address the limitations of current fluid handling systems in assay miniaturization.
• To demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of new pin tool designs.

Main Methods:

• Development of advanced pin tool designs featuring improved slot placement and hydrophobic coatings.
• Utilizing new pin tools for transferring compounds in the 2 nl-5 microl range.
• Employing low-volume source plates (2-10 microl) for compound transfer.

Main Results:

• Achieved compound transfers with accuracy better than 5%.
• Enabled direct transfer from compound libraries to assay plates, eliminating dilution steps.
• Demonstrated effective dilution of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) toxicity in assay target cells via controlled nanoliter transfers.

Conclusions:

• The novel pin tools significantly advance assay miniaturization capabilities for uHTS.
• These tools offer a cost-effective solution by saving reagents, time, and consumables.
• The technology provides a reliable method for precise nanoliter-scale liquid handling in drug discovery workflows.